Raghav Raj Bhatt

🪔 About

Raghav Raj Bhatt is a distinguished Indian Kathak dancer, sketch artist, and an expert in folk and tribal arts. Born in Hyderabad, he was initially introduced to folk and tribal dance by his father, Dr. Gopal Raj Bhatt, a revivalist in these art forms. On his father's encouragement, Raghav Raj Bhatt pursued Kathak, securing a national scholarship in 1979 to train at Kathak Kendra in Delhi. There, he became a prime disciple of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj Ji, under whom he trained and collaborated for 15 years, a guru-shishya bond that continued throughout Maharaj Ji's life. Throughout his career, Bhatt has excelled as a performer, staging solo, duet, and group productions at numerous prestigious festivals both in India and internationally. His performances have taken him to countries including Uzbekistan, Singapore, Russia, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia. In 1990, he co-founded Aakruti Kathak Kendra in Hyderabad with his wife, the late Kathak danseuse Mangala Bhatt, a senior disciple of Pt. Durga Lal Ji. This institution has since become a premier learning center for Kathak, nurturing young talent for over three decades and imparting knowledge in the traditional style. Raghav Raj Bhatt has been actively teaching Kathak for over 30 years. Beyond dance, Bhatt is also a talented sketch artist, known for his line drawings that capture movement. He has exhibited his artwork widely and contributed illustrations to Pt. Birju Maharaj's book, "Ang Kavya". His expertise also extends to choreography, costumes, and set design. As of 2023, he serves as the Principal of the ST Govt College of Music and Dance in Hyderabad. Raghav Raj Bhatt, along with Mangala Bhatt, has received significant recognition for their contributions to classical dance and culture. They were honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2019, the State Award by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, and the 13th Guru Deba Prasad Award. More recently, he was also conferred with the prestigious Tulasi Samman Award for his contributions to Folk and Tribal Arts. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2019), Tulasi Samman Award, State Award, Guru Deba Prasad Award.